Building construction



April 1945. H. P. WEIERMAN 2,372,919

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 21, 1943 merely,

Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,372,919 I BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION Herbert P. Wcierman, Rydal, Pa. Application October 21,1943-, Serial No. 507,065 7 Claims. r01. 20-95) This invention relatesto building construc tion and more particularly to provisions forquickly and easily securing building wall studs in position.

In the erection of interior partitions in new buildin s, it is customaryto employ studs vertically disposed at predetermined spaced intervalsand secured at their ends to a beam or plate. In the erection ofpartitions in old buildings, the studs are usually secured to beams orplates running-along the floor and along the plaster ceiling. Inaccordance with the present invention, provision is made for the rapidmounting orinstallin of the studs in spaced relationship in a mannerwhich will require a minimum of time and which may be accomplished withunskilled labor. The construction in accordance with the presentinvention is particularly adapted for use in connection withprefabricated buildip s.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

. Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the main features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view illustrating the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-rear view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention and shortenedboth vertically and horizontally.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawingherein are illustrative and that various modifications and changes maybe made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wooden studs ll) ofconventional type are illustrated, these studs it being adapted to bevertically disposed and spaced at predetermined intervals along thelocation at which the partition is to be erected. Preformed channelmembers H are provided. these being preferably used at the upper andlower ends of the studs it! as indicated in Fig. 5.

The channel members H are preferably 6- shaped in cross section. asillustrated in Fi l.

covering of lath and plaster, plaster board, or wood or other panelinghas been applied. The flat portion 12 preferably has a widthapproximately equal to the widthv of the studs I0, al though studs l ofgreater width may be employed therewith. The channel member H isillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in the relationship which it occupieswith respect to the upper end of a. stud 10 although it will of coursebe understood that at the bottom of the stud l9 and alonethe floor thechannel member H functions in the same manner. The channel members Hhave vertically extending side portions i3 and J4 and horizontallyinturned flange portions l5 and it. The channel member H is preferablypreformed. in desired lengths, of relatively thin sheet material ofadequate strength and thickness to give the stiffness required.

The side portion [3 is preferably cut away at intervals corresponding tothe predetermined locations at which the studs in are to be mounted.which intervals may, for example, be at sixteen inch centers commonlyemployed for mounting studding. The length of the cutaway portions alongthe side portions 13 is preferably greater than the thickness of thestuds ID. The other side portionv M is preferably continuous anduninterrupted, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The flange portion I5 is cut away toprovide a slot at the same spacedintervals, the slot preferably having two opposed tapered edges I! whichare spaced, at their innermost terminals, 2, distance slightly less thanthe thickness of the studs to exert a wedging and gripping action on thestuds [0 as hereinafter explained.

The flange portion I6 is also cut away to provide a slot at the samespaced intervals. The slot has tapered edges l8 which are spaced, attheir termination at the side portion M, a distance slightly less thanthe thickness of the studs l0 to'permit the wedging of the studs l0there; between. The studs Ill which are employed in building operationsare not always of the same thickness but the provision of the edges atI! and at 18 permits accommodating studs I0 of varying thickness.Variation-of the width of the studs H3 within'reasonable limits is alsoaccommodated.

In the use of the present invention the upper and lower channel membersH are fixed in place in any desired manner, such for example as driv ingnails through the horizontal portions l2 into the ceiling beams orthrough the plaster ceiling into the ceiling beams, and into the flooror floor beams. When a pair of channel members I 2 have thus been placedin position the studs [0 are then driven into place. of the studs ID areforced into wedged relationship with respect to the edges l8, whichedges l8 may and preferably do bite into the parallel faces for a shortdistance. The studs Ill may, 11' desired, be driven in so that theyengage the side portion M. The studs III are at the same time broughtinto gripping engagement with the edges I i which also preferably biteinto the parallel faces of the studs in. The studs H) are firmly grippedand held in position, are restrained against movement in a directionalong the channels l I, and are restrained against withdrawal. Ifdesired, however, the studs I!) may be mounted in the channel members Hand. the assembly put in place and held by nailing through thehorizontal portions l2. It will thus be seen that the I studs HI may bequickly and easily mounted in position and are firmly held in fixedrelationship for the completion of the partition.

I claim:

1. In building construction, a vertical stud having parallel faces, anda channel member having a flat portion, side portions angularly disposedwith respect to said fiat portion and flanges extending rom said sideportions and parallel to said flat portion, said flanges having slotswith opposed marginal edge portions of said slots for grippingengagement with a pair of the faces of said stud.

2. In building construction, a vertical stud having parallel faces, anda channel member having a horizontal portion, vertical side portionsconnected to said horizontal portion, and horizontal flanges connectedto and extending inwardly' from said side portions and parallel to saidhorizontal portion, said flanges having slots therein with opposedmarginal portions of said slots for gripping engagement with a pair ofthe faces of said stud.

3. In building construction, a vertical stud having parallel faces, anda channel member having a horizontal portion, vertical side portions andhorizontal flanges extending inwardly from said side portions, at leastone of said flanges having opposed tapered edge portions for grippingengagement with a pair of the faces of said stud.

The parallel side faces 4. In building construction, a vertical studhaving parallel vertical faces, a channel member having a horizontalportion, vertical side portions, and horizontal flanges extendinginwardly from said side portions and parallel to said horizontalportion, one of said side portions having a slot for the reception ofthe stud, the flange adjacent said side portion having a slot withmarginal edges for gripping engagement with vertical faces of the stud,and the other flange having a slot with marginal edges for engagementwith vertical faces of the stud.

5. In building construction, a vertical stud having parallel faces, achannel member having a horizontal portion, vertical side portions, andhorizontal flanges extending inwardly from said side portions, one'ofsaid side portions having a slot for the reception of the stud, theflange adjacent said side portion having nonparallel edges forengagement with a pair of parallel faces of the stud and the otherflange having nonparallel edges for engagement with said faces of thestud.

6. In building construction, a vertical stud having parallel faces, achannel member having a horizontal portion, vertical side portions, andhorizontal flanges extending inwardly from said side portions, one ofsaid side portions having a slot for the reception of the stud, theflange ad jacent said side portions having a slot with tapered edges forgripping engagement with faces of the stud and the other flange having aslot with tapered edges for wedging engagement with faces of the stud.

7. In building construction, a vertical stud having a pair of parallelvertical faces, a channel member having a horizontal portion, verticalside portions, and horizontal flanges extending inwardly from said sideportions, one of said side portions having a slot for the reception ofthe stud, the flange adjacent said side portion having a slot withtapered edges closer together at their innermost terminals for grippingengagement 'with said faces of the stud and the other flange having aslot with tapered edges closer together at the contiguous side portionfor wedging engagement with said faces of the stud.

HERBERT P. WEIERMAN.

